Imagine you’re driving through a winding valley deep in the mountains of British Columbia when you happen upon a barn along the side of the road. You stop, open the door to investigate, and it’s a full-on rave; keyboards, synthesizers, flashing strobes, and a bass line threatening to turn your insides to jelly. Oh, and there’s a banjo, and a harmonica, and they’re singing about campfires and woodsy topics. That’s the juxtaposition you are confronted with on the debut album, called Currents, from Canadian duo, Moontricks.
Comprised primarily of Nathan Gurley and Sean Rodman, the group describes themselves as electro-pop. I guess that’s not wrong, but it’s kind of a half-truth. They embrace a blues influence on Forest Of My Soul about not taking the easy path in life. The title track starts with a lone singer at a piano before the bass and synthesizers kick in. It’s about “leaving my paddle on the shore” and letting life’s currents take you on your journey. Merlot is a psychedelic folk rock piece that would have been right at home on an early Pink Floyd album.
Regardless of the incursions into other musical styles, this album really is about the mash-up of electronica and folk. Animals is the perfect example where banjo and harmonica blend seamlessly with synthesizers to create an otherworldly sound that elevates the femine being. Dark Matter could have come out of Memphis with a funky feel that seems to be a call to politicians or executives to “step down, you’re out of line”. The CD finishes with Waves. It has banjo and synthesizer, seagull cries and piano, and like it’s namesake it just washes over you.
I’ve been writing about music, in one form or another, for 20+ years. Not much of anything surprises me anymore. I was gobsmacked with Moontricks. I have no idea if this style will catch on and we’ll start hearing others building on what Gurley and Rodman have created here. But if you thirst for something new that you can listen to over and over, you should get immersed in Currents.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.